New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-08
DRIVEN AWAY BY MYSTERIOUS FLAMES

SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION ATTRIBUTED TO A
"sPooK" IN NEw:BRUNswICK.
Boston, Aug. 7 tSpeciab.-A correspondent In Wood
stock, N. B., Of The Boston Herald writes:
The people OF Woodstock mystiied by the strange
scenes which for the past forty-eight hours have
been enacted in a little two-story frame house in VIC
tora-st, occupied by Reginald c. Hoyt apic.ureframe
dealer His family, consisting OF his wife, five children
and two neces in state of dread and anxiety Since
IL O'Clock yesterday morning no less than forty fires
brok In the house Bedding furniture win
dow shades clothes and various household articles have
been partially destroyed. Only untring vigilance has
prevented its contents from being burned
10 ground and this would also have caused the de-
strucon wooden buildings In the neishborhood
These fires be traced to human agency and even
tho scientists staggered without premontion with
lamp lighted or stoves in use various articles would
out OF reach. then bed quilt. another room would
begin smoke and shoulder and as If to puzzle the
be all adre underneath among the Juts stretched ned
:ssi sus 'a' s
partially consumed. A childs dress hanging on
no two articles in the same ignod and would
been consumed but for water copiousy poured on
haunted and crowds hocked there 1t was the talk
OF the town last night
leading ply sican and druggist whose only theory was
that Of electrical or gaseous combustion but the fact
wide open, seems TO refute the supposon James
s. olmstead of olmstead Bros. prominent mer
gave it up as inc picable James Walls editor Of The
Carleton Sentinel. went 10 examine Into
the matter. While he stood In tue parlor
talking with Mrs Hoyt, he astonshed to see white
window curtain burst into flames a point near
the ceiling He rushed to the spot stood chair and
with his hands. which were somewhat burned extin-
guished the fire. only to sec It break out anew
at q point far removed from the original
blaze. He away puzzled. William s. Jones. OF
Boston, la company with Mr. Jarvis. OF the Halifax
Banking Company. called At the house this morning.
While seated in the front talking with Mrs.
Hoyt and George Cornell, the lawyer. childs shrek
heard In the adjoining room. and the party rushed
in TO find basket OF clothes in a blaze
On Saturday afternoon q Herald reporter arrived In
and At went 10 investigate tho matter. lie
was omDanied by half dozen gentlemen who we're
detailed interview members OF the family separately
aud examine every nook aud OF the house and
article Ia it, Those gentlemen we're C. Titus OF
Newport Charles NJ. Raymond d. g. Markham. OF Pr"vi-
dence, c. NJ Raymond H. q. Wells. George j. Raymond,
H. G. Anderson aud MT Max j. Raymond OF Boston. In
partially burned garments sheets aud arti
ces OF furniture we're lying around drenchcd with wafer
walls and ceilings were blackened with smoke.
The children hudded about their mother everyone
dread visit from the fire "spOOk" and anXiously
glancng about. There sign OF human agency IN
any OF those res coud the most rigid question
ing elicit any Information tending TO clear up
tho mystery. On the contrary, 1t was discovered
that fire mad occasion broken out when no one
in the house Mr. Hoyt returned from a neigh bors
house. where no had taken his family, TO hud bed on
fire. Mr. Hoyt is a sober INDUSTRIOUS man aud bears
good reputation. His property Is not Insured The
house is insured. but is not owned by Mr.. Hoyt.